Dear Editor,
I am against the proposed increase in the Town of Okotoks' franchise fee for the following reasons:
1. The cost of living is skyrocketing, and this increase is making it worse for utility customers to manage their expenses.
2. The franchise fee should not be used as a back door way of increasing general revenue.
3. The franchise fee is a tax and should be identified as such. It would be a 35 per cent tax.
4. Arguing that an increase in franchise fee is better than increasing property taxes because it hits non-profit organizations and churches as they don't pay property taxes goes against the reason these organizations receive a break on property taxes.
5. Just because a few other towns have a higher franchise fee than Okotoks doesn't mean it is appropriate for Okotoks to match them.
Harold Johansen
Okotoks